Photos: Solar Decathlon heats up in D.C.

Welcome to the Solar Decathlon at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It's a competition between 20 colleges and universities to build the best house powered entirely by the sun.

These modular buildings were designed, financed, and constructed by students and advisers. Then they were transported and assembled on the National Mall to make a solar village.

Contestants are judged on 10 factors, including architecture, efficiency and market viability. They also have to charge electric cars.

Caption text by CNET News.com Senior Writer Martin LaMonica.